Beyond Research Research Nova Scotia

In this episode, we consider how our environments can help or hinder the health of our population and discuss research aimed to understand the environmental factors influencing population health. We also explore the broader implications of creating supportive environments for chronic disease prevention, contributing to the well-being of communities and society at large.
Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-informing-supportive-environments-for-a-healthier-population
In Season 3, Episode 8 – Informing Supportive Environments for a Healthier Population, we cover:
02:56 – High rates of chronic disease and the influence of our environments04:16 – Dr. Kirk’s background and the research that led to the UpLift Partnership12:39 – What is the UpLift Partnership16:01 – An example of how the UpLift Partnership works and how community gets involved21:47 – Broader impact on healthcare22:42 – Broader teachings for youth24:11 – Aspirations for the future
Thank you to our guests:
Dr. Sara Kirk is a Professor of Health Promotion at Dalhousie University, Scientific Director of the Healthy Populations Institute, and co-lead on the UpLift Partnership.
Shali Manuel is a Youth Engagement Coordinator for the UpLift Partnership. The UpLift Partnership is co-led by Dr. Sara Kirk and Dr. Camille Hancock Friesen. It focuses on promoting youth-engaged leadership for a healthier Nova Scotia. They deliberately target rural schools, contributing to health equity in traditionally underserved communities and engage government departments and community partners to embed a health culture in schools and surrounding communities.
The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.
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In this episode, we continue our thought-provoking conversation with Stefan Leslie and Dr. Melissa Flagg. If you missed the last episode, Gaps; Opportunities in the Current Research System, you might want to listen to it first. It set the context for this discussion on a new initiative in Nova Scotia, Focused Research Investments (FRI).
Listen as we discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in reshaping the research landscape, with a particular emphasis on salient, collaborative research, community engagement, and the pursuit of impactful solutions for society – solutions that address immediate problems but also have applicability in other ways and areas.
We hope you enjoy the conclusion of this insightful discussion.
Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-addressing-the-gaps-focused-research-investments
In Season 3, Episode 7 – Addressing the Gaps: Focused Research Investments, we discuss:
01:10 – What are Focused Research Investments?03:59 – Selecting and defining problems and outcomes18:31 – The importance of collaborative and community-engaged research23:06 – Key ingredients of Focused Research Investments and how they’re unique from other funding opportunities29:30 – Challenges and opportunities inherent in reshaping the research landscape
Learn more about Focused Research Investments: https://researchns.ca/fri/ 
Thank you to our guests:Dr. Melissa Flagg is the founder and president of Flagg Consulting LLC, a fellow at the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC), a visiting fellow at the Perry World House, and a senior advisor to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at GeorgetownUniversity. Prior to this, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research, responsible for policy and oversight of Defense Department science and technology programs. Dr. Flagg has served on numerous boards including the National Academy of Sciences AirForce Studies Board and the Department of Commerce Emerging Technology Research Advisory Committee. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation. She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network, or MEOPAR, a national oceans research network. He has also worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada andthe New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. 
The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.
If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:
Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcastX: @beyondrpodcastFacebook: Beyond Research Podcast

This episode is a conversation between Dr. Melissa Flagg and Stefan Leslie that explores the challenges of tackling wicked and super wicked problems at both global and local scales, and the importance of understanding problems and the environments in which they exist.
They talk about gaps in the current research system, and how to experiment with different ways to support research. Melissa will talk about how important it is to understand the constraints that conditions what research should be done – and how that makes the research better.  Stefan will explore the value of supporting research that solves problems but creates knowledge that is valuable in other circumstances or situations.
If you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to listen to part two of the discussion coming soon. In the next episode, we will explore a new proactive and accountable investment in research funding created to better serve our communities and address the challenges faced by society.
Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-gaps-and-opportunities-in-the-current-research-system
In Season 3, Episode 6 – Gaps & Opportunities in the Current Research System, we discuss:
09:15 – The research systems deviation toward the big, flashy, and novel14:21 – Profit vs Production vs Prestige21:12 – Research that solves problems and defining specific societal outcomes39:42 – Discussing and envisioning a possible system to address some of the gaps
Thank you to our guests:
Dr. Melissa Flagg is the founder and president of Flagg Consulting LLC, a fellow at the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC), a visiting fellow at the Perry World House, and a senior advisor to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown University. Prior to this, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research, responsible for policy and oversight of Defense Department science and technology programs. Dr. Flagg has served on numerous boards including the National Academy of Sciences Air Force Studies Board and the Department of Commerce Emerging Technology Research Advisory Committee. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation. She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network, or MEOPAR, a national oceans research network. He has also worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. 
The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.
If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:
Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcastX: @beyondrpodcastFacebook: Beyond Research Podcast

In this episode, we explore a deep relationship where a utility and researchers work in partnership to identify and work on a range of water research challenges in water quality, water treatment, and stormwater management.
Our guests, Dr. Graham Gagnon at Dalhousie University and Dr. Wendy Krosek at Halifax Water discuss how they work together, where futurewater supply and treatment may lie, and the key ingredients to a successful collaboration, with Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia.
Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-teaming-up-to-manage-water
In Season 3, Episode 5 – Teaming Up to Manage Water, we cover:03:30 – Understanding the research partnership05:51 – Importance of water06:46 – Challenges impacting water and the research need12:15 – Key ingredients to a successful research partnership model19:58 – The social dimension and how this work is useful outside of the utility system24:15 – Future work27:47 – The next generation
Thank you to our guests:
Dr. Graham Gagnon is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering,Director of the Centre for Water Resource Studies, and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Dalhousie University.
Dr. Wendy Krkosek is the Water Quality Manager with Halifax Water.
Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia.
The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.
If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:
Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcastX: @beyondrpodcastFacebook: Beyond Research Podcast

In this episode we explore a critical issue - the alarming rates of chronic diseases, presenting challenges for both individuals and our broader healthcare system. Join us as we discuss how research becomes the catalyst for the evolution of healthcare practices, transforming our perspective on preventative medicine and chronic disease management.
Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-prescribing-wellness-the-evolution-of-chronic-disease-management
In Season 3, Episode 4 – Prescribing Wellness: The Evolution of Chronic Disease Management, we cover:
02:44 – Chronic disease rates and the challenges03:42 - The research that started it all08:30 – What is Exercise is Medicine10:02 – Research impact for healthcare providers and patients11:10 – People, places, and programs for individuals living with chronic disease12:40 – Impact of physical activity and exercise on the healthcare system14:43 – Research impact for individuals living with chronic diseases17:47 – Next steps19:48 – Impact on healthcare costs
Thank you to our guests:
Dr. Jonathon Fowles is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Director of the Centre of Lifestyle Studies at Acadia University.
Joy Chiekwe is the General Manager of Health Management at the John W. Lindsay YMCA in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Provincial Lead for the LiveWell YMCA program. Verna MacKinnon is an Operations Consultant with a focus on physical activity for Nova Scotia Health’s primary health care and chronic disease management provincial network. 
The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts. 
If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcastX: @beyondrpodcastFacebook: Beyond Research Podcast

On the surface, this episode may seem like a story about boosting blueberry production, but it’s a tale of how local research can shape not only an industry, but an entire sector. This work is addressing challenges facing all agriculture crops, like disease, pests, and climate change.
Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-agricultural-resilience-the-blueberry-effect
In Season 3, Episode 3 – Agricultural Resilience: The Blueberry Effect, we cover:
(02:37) Challenges faced by the wild blueberry industry before hiring a specialized researcher(4:59) How research has helped the industry understand and develop solutions to challenges, like pests and diseases(11:52) Current challenges faced by growers(17:09) Impacts of climate events on the crops(20:25) How the blueberry research is relevant to other agricultural crops(22:18) Impact beyond Nova Scotia’s borders (24:19) Future of the industry
Thank you to our guests:
Dr. David Percival is a Professor at Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences.
Gary Brown has worked in the blueberry sector for more than 40 years. He currently does work with Millen Farms, a family-owned sustainable berry farm.
The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.
If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars.
You can also follow us on social:Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcastX: @beyondrpodcastFacebook: Beyond Research Podcast